After the incredible introduction into the supernatural story world in A Discovery of Witches and the mesmerising follow up in Shadow of Night, I thought I knew what direction Deborah Harkness’s The Book of Life would take. I was wrong. Not only was a given a read that would continue to surprise me, but I was introduced to characters that I both love and hate, and the possibilities for future works within the story world are almost endless.

Shadow of Night left us at the foot of Sept Tours, awaiting the reunion of the Bishop-Clairmont family. There were tears, there were celebrations, and there were individuals that I felt my arms open wide to – namely Gallowglass, Jack, Chris, Miriam (an underrated fave), Fernando, and Sarah. There is something about these characters that just makes my emotions rise up and torment me. One thing I will say about this series is that the ensemble characters feel as integral to the story as the main characters, and there isn’t a moment where I felt any character fell into the background or was given parts that didn’t fit.

The plot is a little different to what I expected, and I think this is because the shift in importance or significance of certain characters, relationships and implications makes the story take a turn. doors open while others close depending on the situations and circumstances they find themselves in. The pending danger is constant, not to mention the arrival of a few special people making things all the more difficult to navigate. I do feel that the tension and pacing is a little off at times, and that the conclusion doesn’t feel like the ending it should have been. I felt I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and that break in anticipation wasn’t met, carrying through to the end of the novel and leaving me a little uncertain as to the impact of the ending.

The imagery and setting establishment is as always impeccable, and the return to the academic locations ties the dark academic themes and elements into the story that had been up in the air during Shadow of Night. There are conflicts – internal and external – that help to ground the story, and the threat looming over them grows with each revelation and decision. One thing I will not forget about this story world is its location description and attention to detail. There is never a point where I feel I cannot imagine something, be it a place or action or room layout. Everything feels intentional and relevant, further highlighting or building on other aspects of the story such as character relationships, shifts in power, unspoken truths and so on.

The Book of Life may have surprised me, but it did not disappoint. I can wholehearted say that the All Souls trilogy will stand as one of my favourite series of all-time, and a recommendation I will be giving for many years to come. It has covers so many bases – supernatural, magical realism, romance, dark academia, adult fantasy, historical fiction, and contemporary fantasy – and I have enjoyed every moment of this series. it stands the test of time, provides incredible reading material, and serves as a guide for how to write compelling characters, fantastic interactions, delicious detail, and a story world that is bursting with life.